Enfield Oil
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Enfield Accessories
Forum Description: Slings, Bandoleers and any other Accessories for the Enfields
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5898
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 6:29pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Enfield Oil
Posted By: LilysDad
Subject: Enfield Oil
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 10:15pm
| What kind of oil was carried in the butt stock oiler, back when??? |
Replies:
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 11:03pm
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I have one with brown light weight oil, like a ten weight. Smell like kerosene.
------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Lithgow
Date Posted: April 02 2013 at 11:22pm
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In earlier rifles such as sniders and martinis, I am sure they used Rangoon oil. I am not sure if this was carried over to the lee enfield but I have heard my father talk about Rangoon oil in the past. It was available recently but not sure if its the same stuff.
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Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 1:58am
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Issue in the 60's & 70's was something sold commercially in the U.K. as "Young's .303" by Parker-Hale. Its water soluable to use as a cleaner & neutralizer for corrosive primers & used as it comes its a lube. For a while "Dangerous Dave (the old western scrounger)" sold it in the U.S. as something he called "STES", which stood for "Slicker Than Eel Sweat". I don't know of a current source in the U.S.
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 3:19am
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Wow! I know that I am Irish, most of the I am in the dark and the food taste funny but I have a different understanding of "STES". It is my understanding that "STES" stands for "Slicker Than Eel S*it" But then I do not know may eels. ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 4:49am
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http://www.hyattgunstore.com/rangoon-oil.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.hyattgunstore.com/rangoon-oil.html ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 5:01am
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And they are in NC!
------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 5:24am
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You're right Paddy, but he was printing in magazine ads for general circulation, so he probably toned it down a tad. Rangoon oil IS good stuff, but its frequently a modern version currently. Unlike Youngs its also not water soluable. ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 6:11am
The oiler in the stock of my Vimy Vet has what appears to be the same stuff. Brown, light wieght & smells like a bad fart.(I keep the thing locked in the stock...in case it gets out & breeds.  )Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
paddyofurniture wrote:Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 10:12am
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Hoadie are you sure it is not a face fart? A burp that smells so bad you wish it had come out the other end. Shamu, do you think it is worth buying some of the currently made Rangoon oil? It is my understanding that "STES" stands for "Slicker Than Eel S*it" ( I think that is where the current administration came from). ------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: SW28fan
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 10:54am
There is stuff called Balistol that is water soluable that sounds like what you are describing. I believe it was developed by the Germans before WWI. I bought some and it has a funny smell but after spilling the Montana Extreme  Balistol is a delight by comparison. ------------- Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 9:34pm
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Sounds like you guys have some really old Youngs in there. Its light to dark brown & smells of creosote & disinfectant. If it smells like a facefart it "went orff"  & should be replaced.Ballistol is a similar idea, but different in composition.
------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: Shamu
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 9:37pm
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"Shamu, do you think it is worth buying some of the currently made Rangoon oil?" Honestly, not at that prtice! Rangoon oil was just a really low evaporation oil that came from oil deposits near Rangoon, nothing supersecret special about it. I'd tend to go more with a modern synthetic oil as they've come a long way & didn't even exist back in the days of the Raj! ------------- Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force) |
Posted By: paddyofurniture
Date Posted: April 03 2013 at 10:48pm
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Thanks Shamu.
------------- Always looking for military manuals, Dodge M37 items,books on Berlin Germany, old atlases ( before 1946) , military maps of Scotland. English and Canadian gun parts. |
Posted By: Lithgow
Date Posted: April 06 2013 at 12:00am
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I asked my father today and he confirmed that the issue oil at least in Australia was indeed Rangoon oil. This was in the 40's but later they may have changed to a commercial gun oil.
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